President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the top US military officer told lawmakers Tuesday he would be a nonpartisan leader amid concerns that senior members of the armed forces have been dismissed for political reasons.Democrats have sharply criticized the firing of general CQ Brown — the previous chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — and other top officers, accusing Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth of seeking to ensure the military is led by people loyal to the president.Retired lieutenant general Dan Caine sought to allay such concerns about his nomination, saying that if confirmed, “I’ll continue the traditions and standards of my oath of office and my commission as a nonpartisan leader who will always strive to do the right thing.”Caine said that guarding against politicization of the military “starts with being a good example from the top and making sure that we are nonpartisan and apolitical and speaking the truth to power every day.””The nation and the Constitution all require a nonpartisan military,” he said.Caine also addressed an account that he had put on a “Make America Great Again” hat while meeting with Trump in the past, suggesting the president may have been recalling actions by someone else.”For 34 years, I’ve upheld my oath of office and my commitment to my commission, and I have never worn any political merchandise,” said Caine, who was nominated by Trump to replace Brown in a highly unusual move earlier this year.- ‘Razin’ Caine -Nominees for chairman of the Joint Chiefs must have served as the head of a military branch, as a commander of a combatant command or as vice chairman — none of which Caine has done — but the president may waive that requirement.Caine has served in positions including associate director for military affairs at the CIA as well as in various operational and staff roles, and flew more than 150 hours in combat as an F-16 pilot, an aircraft in which he logged more than 2,800 hours in total.A military official who served with Caine said shortly after Trump announced his nomination that the retired general has “never been a partisan actor, always been apolitical and focused on just simply warfighting and whatever the mission success is.”Trump has described Caine as “an accomplished pilot, national security expert, successful entrepreneur, and a ‘warfighter’ with significant interagency and special operations experience.”The president apparently became enamored of Caine after meeting him in Iraq during his first term, where the general told Trump that his nickname was “Razin.””I said, wait a minute, your name is Razin Caine? I love you, I’ve been looking for you for five years… this is what I want,” Trump told an investor forum in February.Trump abruptly fired Brown in February without explanation, leaving the vice chairman to lead the Joint Chiefs in an acting capacity.In addition to him, top US Navy officer admiral Lisa Franchetti, the Air Force vice chief of staff and three senior military lawyers have also been sacked.Hegseth has insisted the president is simply choosing the leaders he wants, but Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns about the potential politicization of the traditionally apolitical US military.

A Democratic US senator launched a fiery protest speech against President Donald Trump’s “unconstitutional” actions late Monday, then kept going, and going, and more than 16 hours later Tuesday was still going.Senator Cory Booker’s display of endurance — to hold the floor he must remain standing and cannot even go to the bathroom — recalled the famous scene in Frank Capra’s 1939 film classic “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”Although Booker’s talk-a-thon was not actually blocking the majority Republican Party from holding votes in the Senate, as would be the case in a true filibuster, his defiance quickly became a rallying point for beleaguered Democrats.”I rise tonight because I believe sincerely that our country is in crisis,” the 55-year-old New Jersey native said as he launched into his speech.”These are not normal times in America,” Booker added, his voice cracking. “And they should not be treated as such.”Booker, a former presidential candidate, seized command in the chamber at 7:00 pm (2300 GMT) Monday and was still speaking well into Washington’s work day Tuesday.He lashed out at Trump’s radical cost-cutting policies which have seen his top advisor Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, slash entire government programs without consent from Congress.And the senator said Trump’s aggressive seizing of ever-more executive power had put American democracy itself at risk.”Unnecessary hardships are being borne by Americans of all backgrounds. And institutions which are special in America, which are precious and which are unique in our country, are being recklessly — and I would say even unconstitutionally — affected, attacked, even shattered,” Booker said.”In just 71 days the president of the United States has inflicted so much harm on Americans’ safety, financial stability, the core foundations of our democracy,” he said.Because Booker’s obstruction did not occur during voting on any bill it was not technically a filibuster. But this marks the first time during Trump’s term that Democrats have deliberately gummed up Senate business.”Next vote: TBA,” or to be announced, the Senate Press Gallery posted on X early Tuesday.- Democrats struggle for voice -Democratic lawmakers, in the minority in both the Senate and House of Representatives, have struggled over how to blunt Trump’s efforts to downsize government, ramp up deportations and shred much of the country’s political norms.”I just want to thank you for holding vigil for this country all night,” Senator Raphael Warnock told Booker on the floor.Booker passed the hours criticizing Trump’s policies, but to pass the time he also recited poetry, discussed sports and entertained questions from colleagues.In the latest portion of his mega-speech, Booker was discussing fears that Trump will undermine or dismantle the Social Security Administration.”I tell you I am going to fight for your Social Security…, I’m going to fight against unnecessary cuts that hurt the service it gives,” Booker said.”This is not a partisan moment, it is a moral moment. This is not a left or right moment, it is a right or wrong moment,” Booker said. “We have a president that is shredding the very agencies that Americans who are struggling are relying on.””All of us have to stand up and say ‘No, not on my watch,'” he said.The longest Senate speech on record was delivered by South Carolina’s Strom Thurmond, who filibustered for 24 hours and 18 minutes against the Civil Rights Act of 1957.

Auto giant Ford reported a slight drop in first quarter US sales Tuesday, while investors await details of President Donald Trump’s upcoming tariffs this week and assess the effects of duties on major carmakers.The automaker reported a 1.3 percent dip in sales in the world’s biggest economy, to 501,291 vehicles, compared with the same period in 2024.This was mainly due to the discontinuation of certain vehicle models and rental fleet sales timing, the company said.But its first quarter figure exceeded a forecast by automotive research firm Edmunds.Ford maintained in a statement that it saw “strong retail sales in March.”It pointed to the sales of its best-selling F-Series pickup trucks and the Ranger and Maverick models as boosts to its overall performance.But economists warn that Trump’s sweeping tariffs on autos and parts, over time, could cause average auto prices to surge by thousands of dollars.Auto tariffs of 25 percent are set to kick in Thursday. Trump is due to announce additional reciprocal levies midweek to address trade practices his administration deems unfair.The reciprocal action could further affect US neighbors Canada and Mexico, both key players in North American vehicle manufacturing supply chains.JPMorgan analysts have estimated that over 80 percent of Ford’s US sales are produced domestically.The American Automotive Policy Council representing the big three automakers have warned that tariffs should be implemented in a way that avoids lifting costs for consumers and preserves the industry’s competitiveness.